DURHAM could pitch Gary Scott in to open the batting when they resume championship action against Lancashire at Riverside today.

Almost four years after his only previous first-class appearance just after his 17th birthday, Scott has retained his place in the squad after impressing in the Twenty20 Cup.

The choice is between him and Neil Killeen and the decision rests partly on the pitch but mainly on whether Durham think a combination of Nathan Astle and Dale Benkenstein can fill the fourth seamer's role.

The pitch originally earmarked for the match, towards the lower end of the square, was yesterday deemed too wet so the more central strip prepared for Wednesday's washed out Twenty20 match will be used.

"If Gary Scott plays he will probably go in first," said coach Martyn Moxon. "There will be no pressure on him - he can just go in and play. He has been batting high in the order in the A team and he has a decent technique.

"We have confidence in him and there's an air of confidence about him. It would also allow Nicky Peng to go back into the middle order, where he is more comfortable."

After a three-week break from championship cricket, the only other change from the side which drew at Northampton sees Liam Plunkett return at the expense of Mark Turner.

This is the last match Durham will play without skipper Mike Hussey and vice-captain Paul Collingwood unless injuries see Hussey called into Australia's Ashes squad.

He carried his bat for 144 not out in the nine-wicket win at Old Trafford two months ago and Durham will be hoping his deputy, Nathan Astle, can sign off with a big contribution.

With five days off next week Moxon feels the break will come at a good time for some players, saying: "It's surprising how much the Twenty20 games take out of players.

"At least we have Jon Lewis, Ashley Noffke and Mark Davies coming back refreshed, but for some of the others the rest won't be a bad thing.

"Our preparations have been geared around making sure we are mentally back into four-day mode."

Lancashire will have only one overseas player in Brad Hodge as Muthiah Muralitharan has gone off to play in a one-day tournament for Sri Lanka. They are considering replacing him with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

While Durham have never lost to Lancashire with Murali in the side, it will be a relief for the batsmen not to face either him or Andrew Flintoff.

Lancashire are third in the table, 32 points behind Durham, who go into the second half of the season knowing it would take a serious loss of form to prevent them being promoted.

Durham (from): D M Benkenstein (capt), J J B Lewis, N J Astle, G M Scott, N Peng, G J Muchall, G R Breese, P Mustard, A A Noffke, L E Plunkett, M Davies, N Killeen.

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